Biomarker Commons

Nuclear factor kappa B pathway associated biomarkers in AIDS defining malignancies.

Int J Cancer. 2012 Jun 1;130(11):2728-33

Authors: Ramos JC, Sin SH, Staudt MR, Roy D, Vahrson W, Dezube BJ, Harrington W, Dittmer DP

Abstract
The nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) pathway is essential for many human cancers. Therapeutics such as bortezomib (Velcade™) that interfere with NFκB signaling are of great clinical interest. NFκB signaling, however, is multifaceted and variable among tissues, developmental and disease entities. Hence, targeted biomarkers of NFκB pathways are of prime importance for clinical research. We developed a novel real-time qPCR-based NFκB array. Only mechanistically validated NFκB targets were included. We then used random-forest classification to define individual genes and gene combinations within the NFκB pathways that define viral lymphoma subclasses as well as Kaposi sarcoma (KS). Few NFκB targets emerged that were universally present in all tumor types tested, underscoring the need for additional tumor-type specific biomarker discovery. (i) We uncovered tissue of origin-specific tumor markers, specifically CD69, CSF-1 and complement factor B (C1QBP) for primary effusion lymphoma (PEL); IL1-beta, cyclinD3 and CD48 for KS. We found that IL12, jun-B, msx-1 and thrombospondin 2 were associated with EBV co-infection in PEL. (ii) We defined the NFκB signature of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) positive AIDS-associated Burkitt lymphoma (BL). This signature identified CCR5 as the key marker. (iii) This signature differed from EBV negative BL consistent with the idea that EBV not only activates NFκB activity but that this virus also reprograms NFκB signaling toward different targets.

PMID: 21792887 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Serum microRNAs are promising novel biomarkers for diffuse large B cell lymphoma.

Ann Hematol. 2012 Apr;91(4):553-9

Authors: Fang C, Zhu DX, Dong HJ, Zhou ZJ, Wang YH, Liu L, Fan L, Miao KR, Liu P, Xu W, Li JY

Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are regulatory RNA molecules that are deregulated in many disease types, including cancer. Recently, miRNAs have shown promise as markers for cancer diagnosis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether serum miRNAs can be used as biomarkers for the detection of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). We measured the levels of miRNAs (miR-15a, miR-16-1, miR-21, miR-29c, miR-34a, miR-155, and miR-223) in serum samples from patients with DLBCL and healthy controls using real-time quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). We show here that miRNAs are present in human serum in a remarkably stable form. Four of miRNAs (miR-15a, miR-16-1, miR-29c, and miR-155) were significantly elevated in DLBCL serum when compared with normal controls (P < 0.05), while miR-34a was downregulated in DLBCL serum when compared with controls (P < 0.05). Receiver operating characteristic analyses reflects strong discriminating DLBCL from controls, with area under the curves of 0.7722, 0.7002, 0.6672, 0.8538, and 0.7157 for miR-15a, miR-16-1, miR-29c, miR-34a, and miR-155, respectively. At the cut-off value of 0.0006 for miR-15a, the sensitivity was 80% and the specificity was 76%; at the cut-off value of 0.0886 for miR-16-1, the sensitivity was 94% and the specificity was 51%; at the cut-off value of 1.395 for miR-34a, the sensitivity was 100% and the specificity was 70%; at the cut-off value of 0.0022 for miR-155, the sensitivity was 83% and the specificity was 65%. In conclusion, these data suggest that serum miRNAs are potentially useful tools as novel noninvasive biomarker for the diagnosis of DLBCL.

PMID: 21987025 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Elevated serum IL-10 levels in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a mechanism of aberrant JAK2 activation.

Blood. 2012 Mar 22;119(12):2844-53

Authors: Gupta M, Han JJ, Stenson M, Maurer M, Wellik L, Hu G, Ziesmer S, Dogan A, Witzig TE

Abstract
Cytokines are deregulated in cancers and can contribute to tumor growth. In patients with diffuse large-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), we observed higher levels of JAK/STAT pathway-related serum cytokines (ie, IL-6, IL-10, epidermal growth factor, and IL-2) compared with controls. Of these, only IL-10 activated the JAK2 pathway in lymphoma cells in vitro. Patients with high serum IL-10 had shorter event-free survival (EFS) than patients with low levels (P > .01) and high IL-10 was correlated with high lactase dehydrogenase (P = .0085) and higher International Prognostic Index scores (P = .01). To explore the mechanism by which IL-10 may contribute to an inferior EFS, we investigated the effect of IL-10 on the JAK2 pathway and found that the IL-10/IL-10 receptor complex up-regulated JAK2 signaling. Neutralizing Ab to IL-10 inhibited constitutive and IL-10-induced JAK2/STAT3 phosphorylation. JAK2 inhibition dephosphorylated JAK2 and STAT3 and caused an inhibitory effect on phospho-JAK2-positive DLBCL cells; there was a minimal effect on phospho-JAK2-negative cells. Apoptosis induced by JAK2 inhibition was dependent on inhibition of autocrine IL-10 and c-myc expression and independent of Bcl-2 family expression. These results provide the rationale for testing JAK2 inhibitors in DLBCL patients, and indicate that serum IL-10 may be a biomarker to identify patients more likely to respond to JAK2-targeted therapy.

PMID: 22323454 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Cell-free DNA as a biomarker in the context of cancer, viruses, and methylation.

J Infect Dis. 2012 Apr;205(7):1032-4

Authors: Stebbing J, Bower M

PMID: 22357695 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Correspondence between salivary proteomic pattern and clinical course in primary Sjögren syndrome and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: a case report.

J Transl Med. 2011;9:188

Authors: Baldini C, Giusti L, Ciregia F, Da Valle Y, Giacomelli C, Donadio E, Ferro F, Galimberti S, Donati V, Bazzichi L, Bombardieri S, Lucacchini A

Abstract
BACKGROUND: In the last years human proteomic has represented a promising tool to promote the communication between basic and clinical science.
METHODS: To explore the correspondence between salivary proteomic profile and clinical response, herein, we used a proteomic approach to analyse the whole saliva of a patient with primary Sjögren's Syndrome (pSS) and non-Hodgkin's-MALT type parotid lymphoma before, during and after a standard treatment with cyclophosphamide (CTX) and rituximab (RTX). To identify any discriminatory therapeutic salivary biomarker patient's whole saliva was collected at the baseline, after the fourth infusion of rituximab, and on remission and analysed combining two-dimensional electrophoresis (2DE) and MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry.
RESULTS: Proteomic results obtained from the comparison of salivary samples indicated several qualitative and quantitative modifications in the salivary expression of putative albumin, immunoglobulin J chain, Ig kappa chain C region, alpha-1-antitrypsin, haptoglobin and Ig alpha-1 chain C region.
CONCLUSION: This study suggests that clinical and functional changes of the salivary glands driven by autoimmune and lymphoproliferative processes might be reflected in patients' whole saliva proteins, shedding new light on the potential usefulness of salivary proteomic analysis in the identification of prognostic and therapeutic biomarkers for patients with pSS and non Hodgkin's lymphomas.

PMID: 22047044 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

A pilot study to evaluate 3'-deoxy-3'-18F-fluorothymidine pet for initial and early response imaging in mantle cell lymphoma.

J Nucl Med. 2011 Dec;52(12):1898-902

Authors: Herrmann K, Buck AK, Schuster T, Rudelius M, Wester HJ, Graf N, Scheuerer C, Peschel C, Schwaiger M, Dechow T, Keller U

Abstract
UNLABELLED: Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Proliferation activity is considered an important prognostic marker. Immunohistochemical analysis from core biopsy or lymph node may not represent the proliferation rate. We investigated the in vivo proliferation marker 3'-deoxy-3'-(18)F-fluorothymidine ((18)F-FLT) to characterize MCL.
METHODS: Eight untreated MCL patients were recruited prospectively. (18)F-FLT PET/CT was performed 45 min after injection of (18)F-FLT. (18)F-FDG PET/CT served as reference. Mean (18)F-FLT standardized uptake values were assessed per lesion and compared with respective (18)F-FDG uptake. Correlation of mean (18)F-FLT and (18)F-FDG uptake in the hottest lesion to Ki67 immunostaining was performed. Five patients underwent repetitive early (18)F-FLT PET.
RESULTS: All lymphoma lesions identified by (18)F-FDG PET/CT showed increased (18)F-FLT uptake. Semiquantitative analysis revealed a high mean (18)F-FLT standardized uptake value of 9.9 (range, 5.5-15.9). Mean (18)F-FLT uptake and Ki67 expressions showed a strong positive correlation.
CONCLUSION: PET using (18)F-FLT as a biomarker for proliferative activity showed a high sensitivity for MCL. (18)F-FLT uptake shows a correlation with proliferation. Our results warrant further analysis of (18)F-FLT PET in MCL.

PMID: 22065875 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Gene set enrichment analysis unveils the mechanism for the phosphodiesterase 4B control of glucocorticoid response in B-cell lymphoma.

Clin Cancer Res. 2011 Nov 1;17(21):6723-32

Authors: Kim SW, Rai D, Aguiar RC

Abstract
PURPOSE: Resistance to glucocorticoid (GC) is a significant problem in the clinical management of lymphoid malignancies. Addressing this issue via a mechanistic understanding of relevant signaling pathways is more likely to yield positive outcomes.
EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We used gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), multiple genetic models of gain and loss of function in B-cell lymphoma cell lines, in vitro and in vivo, and primary patient samples to characterize a novel relationship between the cyclic AMP/phosphodiesterase 4B (cAMP/PDE4B), AKT/mTOR activities, and GC responses.
RESULTS: Starting from the GSEA, we found that overexpression of the PDE4B in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) impinge on the same genes/pathways that are abnormally active in GC-resistant tumors. We used genetically modified cell lines to show that PDE4B modulates cAMP inhibitory activities toward the AKT/mTOR pathway and defines GC resistance in DLBCL. In agreement with these data, pharmacologic inhibition of PDE4 in a xenograft model of human lymphoma unleashed cAMP effects, inhibited AKT, and restored GC sensitivity. Finally, we used primary DLBCL samples to confirm the clinical relevance and biomarker potential of AKT/mTOR regulation by PDE4B.
CONCLUSIONS: Together, these data mechanistically elucidated how cAMP modulates GC responses in lymphocytes, defined AKT as the principal transducer of the growth inhibitory effects of cAMP in B cells, and allowed the formulation of genomics-guided clinical trials that test the ability of PDE4 inhibitors to restore GC sensitivity and improve the outcome of patients with B-cell malignancies.

PMID: 21742807 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]